Bullpen takes hit: Reyes lost for playoffs with arm injury

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis Cardinals reliever Al Reyes tore a ligament in his right elbow in the regular-season finale and will require reconstructive surgery, forcing him to miss the playoffs.

Reyes, who was 4-2 with a 2.15 ERA in 65 games with three saves, was the team's top middle reliever. He struck out the side with the bases loaded to get the win on Friday.

Trainer Barry Weinberg said Monday that Reyes had not reported any problems with the elbow before the injury in the sixth inning Sunday against the Reds, and he left the game with a 3-2 count on Felipe Lopez. An exam on Monday morning confirmed the team's suspicions, Weinberg said.

"It was a one-pitch episode," Weinberg said. "He felt some discomfort and knew it wasn't right."

The 35-year-old Reyes had reconstructive surgery on the elbow in 1995. The injury is expected to sideline him for a year.

"It's bad luck," Weinberg said. "It's horrible luck for him."

Weinberg said Jim Edmonds, who didn't start the last two games of the regular season due to shoulder soreness, would be in the lineup for the opener of the Cardinals' first-round playoff series against the Padres on Tuesday.

"He's doing much better," Weinberg said. "He'll be ready to go."